Fastener unit



Feb. 2l, 1950 o. JjPoUPn-CH FASTENER UNIT Filed Sept. 242, 1945 associated therewith. f`

Patented Feb. 21, 1.950

T ED TAT ES f F1 .C1-E

Ougljesa ,I Ill., assigner to Illinois Tool Wo ofllllinois f rks, Chicago,.'Ill.,a corporation September 22, l1:22515,I Serial No. 618,0(l5

This invention relates generally to fastener units of the 'screwv threaded 'type and more'particularlyto fastener`-units embodying'tvvo relatively rotatable fastener f" elements connected: as a unit, one a rotary threaded fastenerl part and the other a spring-locking element or washer Experiencefhas shown that when a rotary tl'ireadedfastener member, such'as a nut, k"is to be tightened against certain types of work surfaces, theI use of conventional nuts and vlock washers is not desirable. fhlhus, 'for example, when 4it becomes necessary to tighten a'nt against relatively thin stock such a'sth'e sheet metal stock of fenders for automobiles and the like, itis not practical to lock the nut in place bythe use of conventional lock-'washers'Y The present l,invention contemplates the provision of a'lockirigor fastening unit which is particularly adaptableY to be used in association with relatively thin sheet metal surfaces and the like without `causinga`ny deilection lof the vwork surfaceand at the same time, positively vinsuring the rotary threaded fastener member, such as a nut, against such unauthorized loosening. To this end the invention contemplates a Very simple,'yet highly ei'icient, devicecomprised of two relatively rotatable parts, one a rotary threaded fastener memben'such as s anut, andthe other a sheet metal washer element of dished form carried as a unit thereby having itsouter margin; or edge, positioned radiallyl outward from the nut a sufficient distance tofacilitate axial deflectiono'f-the linner portion of the washer so as to Ymaterially increase resistance-to retrograde rotation of the nut after the unit has been tightened against the work.y v i -r f- More specifically the invention contemplates a fastener unit, as set forth above,l wherein the spring locking element,v or washer," includes' a radially extending Washer-like body portion-and an outer marginal flange portion extending laterally of the body to provide a' work 'engaging edge designed to frictionally engage kthe work surface -and in instanceswhere desired, tosealingly engage the work surface.

The invention further contemplates an improved fastener unit having the Structural characteristics referred to above', wherein'means in the form of interlocking protuberances and recesses between the clamping side of a rotary threaded member and the adjacent surface of the washer member are provided for securing the parts against relative -retrograde'rotation after v tightening. w

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a fastener- -whichV substantially no'radial movement 'of the 'oi-iter iarg'in 'ot-fthe washer element occurs when rotaryias'tener nie'rnberis-tightened toaxially ideflect itheihner" margin' of Ethevvasher.' i

4"Afur'ther''objectfof j'the present invention'is to provide a fastener unit inl whichltherotarly '-thieaded'-fast`ener partA constitutes a nut formed "irom'fsheetl metal .which i'sbent: or drawnso'as to provideafplurality of sides adapted to be 'engaged by a turning tool anda centralneck portio'nf reduced Vsize to receive the spring .washer member and to afford suiiicient nut vstock 'forv the interina] thlad. f v

Afstillffur'the'r object of the present invention isftoprovideiinthe aforesaid fastener unitfa f-h'ollow nutf'niember having a multi-sided socket -foralcc'ommodating a-turning toolN anda reduced neck" portieri` for.. rotatably, accommodating" the 'springwasher memberf '1 i? The ioregoing'an'd other objects' and advantages `willbefrno're'v apparentffrom the followingzdetailed drawing wherein: Alliigrl. is 'a perspective View showing the unit .of the'present invention: a ,thin sheetfmetalstock; A Y.' 'Fig:.2 is an enlarged vertical sectional'view taken substantially 'along the line 2-2 Aof Fig.1l :showing the) fastener unit as applied toi a sheet metal workv piece having a relatively large ffaperture;y j f =Fig.-}.3 is a View similar to Fig.

fastener after-K, it ha --work-.piece; f 4 1, ligx` is a vertical sectional View taken 'sub- Stantiallv along the line 4,.- 4 of Fig.2

Fig..v 5y is an ,elevational View ,ofthev sheet metal nutmember as viewed. .from therisht of :Fia-1.2; .-Figg. 6 discloses a- Sheet metal-blank. from which the nutmember of Fig. 5 may be formed; l l Fig?? disclosesthe underside of a nut of modiiiedforlml -1 f .A

Fig.;8 is a central sectional View of the nut shownZ in Fig. Italien substantiallyr along the line {iQ-T8 of Fig. '7; and, e A' .c

:'Fig. 9 is a side elevational View shown partly insee-tion disclosing the nut of Figs. 7 and 8 v"secured Eas 1a unit with the spring-locking washer. Referring 'now to the drawing 'more in detail rfastener' pplied to relatively c 2 showing' the s .been tightenedragainsty the 5o 'wherein vlike-numerals have been employed to unit, as stated above, in

ciation with a work piece or automobile fender i2. The fastener unit l cooperates with a screw ld to secure a molding strip I6 against the Work piece or fender l2. In Figs. 2 and 3 the fastener unit lil is employed to secure a at sheet or work piece i8 against the supporting plate I9.

In Figs. 1-4 inclusive, the fastener unit I8 includes a nut member 2D and a spring-nutlocking-washer member 22 carried as a unit by the nut member 20. be formed from a single sheet of metallic stock.

Fig. 6 discloses a sheet metal blank 24 having a plurality of marginal tabs 26 adapted to be folded or bent at right angles to an annular base portion 28 as illustrated in Fig. 5. These tabs 26 provide the side surfaces or walls of the nut which are adapted to be gripped by a conventional turning tool such as a wrench. A neck .portion 30, of reduced diameter, extends axially from the annular body portion 28. The interior Asurface of the neck 36 is threaded to accommodate the screw member I4 and the outer surface thereof provides a washer retaining portion for accommodating the inner margin of the washer member 22.

The washer member 22 includes an annu1ar disk-like body portion 32 which extends an ap preciable distance beyond the periphery of the nut member 2i?. rIhe outer margin of the body portion 32 is bent to form a flange 34 having an edge for frictionally engaging the work surface. Said flange is of sufficient axial extent to maintain the required spaced relationship between the' body 32 and the work surface engaged by the ila-nge 34. body portion 32 is bent at 36 so as to afford an axial dimension which is substantially greater than the thickness of the stock. An annular shoulder formed on the neck of the nut 20 serves to prevent axial separation of the nut and washer.

The nut 2l) and washer 22 are freely rotatable with respect to each other prior to the tightening, or clamping, of the washer against the work. In Fig. 2 the nut and washer are shown prior to tightening the nut against the Washer. In Fig. 3 the nut is shown in its tightened position at which time the inner margin of the washer body has been axially deected against the spring resistance of the washer body. The frictional engagement of the washer flange 34 with the work surface is such as to counteract the tendency of' the washer to rotate as the nut is tightened thereagainst. To insure against inadvertent reiograde rotation of the nut with respect to the washer, the clamping area of the body portion v28 of the nut is provided with three equally spaced proturberances 35 and the adjacent area of the washer Ibody is undulated. This provides a satisfactory interlock between the nut and the washer so as to counteract retrograde rotation of the nut after it has been tightened to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the outer edge of the washer not only bears firmly against the work surface, but the spring action of the washer operates to increase frictional resistance to retrograde rotation between the thread convolutions in the neck of the nut and the complementary convolutions of the screw member It.

' In Figs. 1-9 inclusive, a nut of modified construction is shown, this nut being designated generally by the numeral 20a.. The nut 20a. 'is

formed with integrally connected wrench-receiving sections 26a, a body portion 28a and a neck The nut member 20 may The inner margin, or edge, of the portion 30a of reduced diameter. Protuberances 35o formed or extruded along the clamping side of the nut 2Go cooperate with the aforesaid undulations in the washer member 22 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. After the washer and nut have been telescopically associated, the outer edge of the neck is upset to secure the parts against axial separation as previously described in connection with the fastener unit shown in Figs. 1 4 inclusive. It will be noted that the sheet metal nut 28 and the annularly continuous nut 29a provide an inner recess or socket for accommodating a socket-turning tool as distinguished from a wrench. By forming the nut of sheet metal stock the ease with which the nut socket may be formed is greatly facilitated. In constructing the nut from sheet stock the blank used may conform with the blank shown in Fig. 6 or other forms which will permit the nut to be formed or drawn in hexagonal shape.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention contemplates a fastener unit arrangement which is particularly adaptable to be used against relatively thin stock. Sheet metal fender material, as shown in Fig. 1, is relatively thin and insecuring such material in place care must be exercised so as to prevent the material of the work from being distorted or bent. By having a washer member of relatively large diameter carried as a unit by a nut member of relatively small diameter, considerable force may be applied to the relatively thin sheet stock without the potential hazard of deforming the stock. By having the annular washer body 32 normally maintained in spaced relationship from the work surface by the annular ange 34, the inner margin of said body may be axially flexed within relatively wide limits without subjecting the work-engaging washer edge to any appreciable radial movement. In other words, as the inner margin of the Washer body is sprung to set up increased frictional resistance to rotation between the thread convolutions of the nut and screw, the pressure of the outer edge of the Washer against the wort: is normal to the work surface and not parallel thereto. Thus disugurernent of the work surface, resulting from the engagement of the washer therewith, is positively prevented. The work-engaging edge 0f the washer, as shown in the drawing, provides a very effective seal against the entrance of moisture.

In instances where increased frictional resistance to turning between the washer and the work is desired the washer edge may be roughened or provided with teeth.

The invention as set forth herein contemplates va fastener unit which includes two elements,

namely a nut and a spring washer element in which said spring member extends radially beyond the periphery of the rotary threaded fastener or nut a suflicient distance to facilitate axial deflection of its inner margin when the' While for purposes of illustration certain specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of modications and changes without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1 .A fastener unit comprising a permanently united rotary fastener member having an internal thread helix and a thread locking spring washer carried thereby as a preassembled unit, said fastener member having a work facing surface at one end thereof, an implement engaging portion adjacent the other end thereof, andan annular sleeve portion therebetween, the washer comprising a dished sheet metal member having a central opening, the inner annular margin of which is rotatably mounted on said annular sleeve portion, and the washer body extending materially outwardly of the body of the fastener and having an outer marginal edge projecting away from the implement engagement portion of the fastener member for engagement with a workpiece, and a series of interlocking cooperative abutments on the fastener and washer for resisting relative rotation therebetween when in resilient engagement, the abutment; on the fastener member extending radially outwardly of said sleeve portion said annular :fastener sleeve portion being provided with limiting means .towards which the inner annular margin of the washer is flexed as an incident to the coaction of said abutments, the abutments of the washer being disposed between said inner margin yand outer marginal washer edge, whereby the resiliency of the washer body serves both to maintain said abutments interlocked and said outer marginal edge in engagement with the workpiece when the parts are in work clamping position, and said limiting means functions to limit the extent to which the inner margin of the-washer may be axially shifted upon the ilexingof the washer body by the engagement of the abutments.

2. A fastener unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring washer comprises a relatively at body portion having an axially extending outer margin, the free edge of which is adapted to engage a complementary work surface.

3. A fastener unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the abutments on the spring washer comprise undulations along the inner marginal portion thereof.

4. A fastener unit in laccordance with claim 1, wherein the rotary fastener member comprises a sheet metal nut structure which is centrally extruded to provide'the annular sleeve.

5. A fastener unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said limiting means consists of an annular laterally extending flange which provides a shelf for cooperation with the internal margin of the spring washer.

OUGLJESA JULES POUPITCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,498,221 February 21, 1950 OUGLJESA JULES POUPITCH It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 55, for rerograde read retrograde; line 71, for "Figs 1-9 read Figs. 7-9;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

